Systematic Expository Study of God’s Word
27/01/2014
Study 19: DIVINE INTERVENTION AFTER DISCIPLES’ INTERCESSION
Acts 12:1-25
The enemy’s opposition against the spread of God’s saving truth was resumed by Herod. He
stretched forth his hands to vex the Church. He intended to pursue the violent, intense, severe
persecution of the Church to “please the Jews”. What would please the Jews and please the
Herods at the same time? “That it (the message of salvation through Christ) spread no
further among the people” (Acts 4:17). That they “speak not at all nor teach in the name
of Jesus” (Acts 4:18). That the Apostles “should not teach in this name” nor fill “Jerusalem
with (His) doctrine” (Acts 5:28). “That this Jesus of Nazareth” should not “change the
customs which Moses delivered” them (Acts 6:14). That Jesus be not proclaimed as Saviour
and Lord of all (Acts 9:29). Herod, in pleasing the Jews and pleasing himself, displeased God.
“He killed James and proceeded further to take Peter also.” His plan was to eliminate the
Apostles so he could destroy the Church. He began by destroying “the pillars” so he could
demolish “the temple”. He imprisoned Peter, intending to execute him later. The Church
prayed fervently and without ceasing. God delivered Peter miraculously by angelic visitation
and ministration. Herod, because of his sin and pride was smitten dead by the angel of the
Lord and the Word of God has continued to grow and multiply until this day.
1.
SEVERE PERSECUTION AND PLOT AGAINST THE PIONEERS
Acts 12:1-4; John 15:18-20; 16:1-4; Mark 10:35-40; Galatians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:4-6;
Matthew 24:9-14; Luke 21:12,16-19,34-36; Proverbs 19:21; 21:30; Isaiah 14:24,27;
46:9,10.
“Now about that time”, the time of the predicted famine, when Barnabas and Saul took
“relief to Jerusalem” (Acts 11:29). “Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex”,
that is, to oppress and persecute the leaders in the Church. James, Peter and John were
pillars in the Church. The Apostles were the foundation on which the visible Church was
built (Galatians 2:9; Ephesians 2:20). To discourage, disorganize and destroy the Church,
Herod focused his attention on the pillars and pioneers – to afflict, injure and even kill
them. He began by suddenly killing James, the brother of John. The incident was not
surprising or shocking to the early Church that James, one of the two sons of Zebedee,
became the first martyred Apostle. It was the fulfilment of Christ’s prediction and the
Apostle’s commitment. “Can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized
with the baptism that I am baptized with?” “We can.” “Ye shall indeed drink of the
cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be
baptized.” Neither Herod nor any other persecutor could go beyond whatsoever Christ’s
“counsel determined before to be done” (Acts 4:28).
“And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also.”
His actions were not based on the principle of righteousness or justice. As a king or
ruler, he was not committed to ‘upholding the constitution’, protecting the innocent,
preventing evil and punishing evil-doers. The promotion of his own popularity was the
motive of his actions. Herod sacrificed his soul and his eternal happiness to keep a
temporary position of no lasting value. Oh, how foolish! How many monarchs and
political figures there are, how many people there are, who throw their souls to hell, who
sell themselves to Satan, living only and always to please men in order to earn and secure
popularity. Peter was Herod’s next object of attack. He took him, apprehended and
imprisoned him, intending to kill him after the Passover of the Jews. That was the end of
Herod’s evil ambition. Soon after this, he perished without seeing his desires fulfilled.
2.
SUPERNATURAL PRESERVATION OF THE PREACHER
THROUGH PRAYER
Acts 12:5-17; Ephesians 6:18-20; Hebrews 13:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; Isaiah 26:3,4;
Philippians 4:6,7; Acts 5:17-20; 16:25,26; Psalm 34:7; 2 Corinthians 1:8-10; Matthew
18:19,20; 1 John 5:14,15.
“Prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.” Confronted
with the sudden arrest and imprisonment of the Apostle Peter, the Church
immediately gathered to pray unto God. They had no other source or hope of
release. They had no contact among the Jews or supporters in the court of
Herod to appeal on his behalf. The Church had no representative or defender in
the religious arena or in the political circles. “We know that every where it is spoken
against” (Acts 28:22). “By whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small” (Amos 7:2,5). By
whom shall Peter or the Church escape death and destruction? God is “the Governor
among the nations” (Psalm 22:28). In seasons of persecution and danger, in periods of
injustice and oppression when circumstances seem hopeless, we can seek release and
refuge in God. Peter, at the mercy of merciless Herod, in the grip of Herod’s iron hands, in
the custody of sixteen armed soldiers, in the prison secured by iron gates, appeared to be
in a hopeless situation. But with a powerful God in heaven and a praying Church on
earth, no situation is hopeless. “The same night” before his imminent death “Peter was
sleeping”. This is a remarkable evidence of unwavering faith in God, undisturbed peace
of mind and absolute confidence in the words of Christ. Christ had promised that Peter
would minister and live till old age (John 21:17-19) and he believed the Lord implicitly,
without any shadow of doubt. “And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him,
and raised him up. And his chains fell off from his hands.” By an unprecedented
manifestation of divine power, without the use of any natural means, Peter was
miraculously delivered, brought through iron doors and gates, released and set free from
danger and death. In response to the prayer of the Church, honouring the faith
of
Peter, fulfilling the words of Christ, affirming the irreversible will of God, the Lord sent
His angel to deliver His servant from Herod’s prison and the expectation of the Jews.
3.
SINNERS’ PUNISHMENT AND THE PREVALENCE OF PREACHING
Acts 12:18-25; 2 Peter 2:9; Isaiah 13:6-11; 26:20,21; Matthew 25:41,46; Hebrews 10:2931; Acts 6:7; 11:21-24; 9:18-20; 20:24-28; Colossians 4:17; Matthew 16:18.
The guards who were entrusted with Peter’s custody could not explain how he had
escaped. His escape was a miracle to the
Church, a mystery to the four quarternions
of soldiers, a
mistake to Herod. Herod punished the keepers who could not give
account of his escape “and commanded that they should be put to death”. After
Peter’s escape, disappointed that he could not gain more popularity with the Jews
through the planned execution, Herod “went down from Judea to Caesarea and there
abode”. Abiding in Caesarea, Herod became displeased with some of those under his
domain.
Fearing the effects of his anger and displeasure they made moves to be at peace with him.
“And upon a set day” the people were gathered together and he “made an oration unto
them”. His speec h and manner of delivery with the splendour of his royal apparel drew a
blasphemous applause and flattery from the crowd, “The people gave a shout, saying,
It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.” “He gave not God the glory” and
sudden, divine judgment came on him immediately. His cup of iniquity was full, he
sinned beyond the day of grace, he went too far on the dark road to hell and reached a
point of no return; “the angel of the Lord smote him, and he was eaten of worms.”
His empty pride plunged him into eternal punishment, divine wrath and fiery indignation.
Flattery drove him to the eternal lake of fire. “But the word of God grew and
multiplied.” The persecutor taken away from the seat of power, the servants and
children of God continued preaching the Word to every creature everywhere. The miracle
of Peter’s deliverance and the suddenness of the persecutor’s destruction increased the
zeal, the faith, the faithfulness, the dedication, the courage, the sacrifice and the
fruitfulness of the Apostles, the disciples, the whole Church.
* * * * * * *
Congregational Song:
WILL YOUR ANCHOR HOLD?
1. Will your anchor hold in the storms of life?
When the clouds unfold their wings of strife;
When the strong tides lift and the cables strain,
Will your anchor drift, or firm remain?
We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Stedfast and sure while the billows roll:
Fasten’d to the Rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love!
2. It is safely moored ’twill the storm withstand,
For ’tis well secured by the Saviour’s hand;
And the cables passed from His heart to mine,
Can defy the blast, through strength divine.
3. It will firmly hold in the straits of fear,
When the breakers have told the reef is near,
Though the tempest rave and the wild winds blow,
Not an angry wave shall our bark o’erflow.
4. It will surely hold in the floods of death,
When the waters cold, chill our latest breath,
On the rising tide it can never fail,
While our hopes abide within the veil !
5. When our eyes behold, through the gathering night
The city of gold, our harbour bright,
We shall anchor fast by the heavenly shore,
With the storms all past for evermore.